Page 21 of Sweet Hate (If You Dare #1)

HAVEN

I try to forget about the blonde currently rubbing herself like a horny cat all over Axel in the hallway I just vacated and focus on finding Jett. I don’t know what just happened, but it was definitely a mistake. One I need to remind myself not to make again and again, apparently.

He seems to have a lot of women around these days, and a type, if the two blondes I’ve seen fawning over him are any indication.

“Haven, doll, long time no see!” Jett sweeps her inky blue hair into a haphazard bun as she approaches me. I try to contain my surprise at her warm greeting. Axel got on with her well, but I’d kept to myself. I always thought she didn’t like me back then.

“Jett, hi! Axel just told me you offered up your kitchen for me and I just wanted to thank you. I’m so very grateful. If I can do anything at all to repay you, please just ask. I can make a mean cocktail if you’re ever short on bar staff!”

She laughs, and it softens the hard angles of her face. She’s beautiful but has a perpetual resting bitch face. It serves her well when she’s busting drunk men’s balls. She comes around the bar and surprises me again by pulling me into a huge hug.

“Any friend of Axel’s is a friend of mine, especially you,” she emphasizes the especially .

“No thanks needed, Haven, but if you ever need a taste tester for those practice runs, you be sure to call me. It takes a lot of calories to cultivate these curves.” She shimmies her curvy hourglass hips at me, sending us both into a fit of giggles.

All of a sudden, her face morphs back into the cold hard lines I’d come to know, her glare aimed over my shoulder. I follow her gaze to see Axel and the blonde sitting at a table just outside the hallway in conversation.

My heart sinks, and I turn back to Jett again, ready to say my goodbyes and head back to the others, when she grabs my hand, her serious amber eyes meeting mine.

“You might want to do something about that.” She nods in Axel's direction. “That girl is a viper. She’s been after him for as long as I can remember and will not take no for an answer. Huge fuckup on his part ever going there.”

“I’m not getting involved in his sex life. It’s none of my business. Besides, he doesn't look too annoyed about it, Jett.”

“You sure about that, doll? Look again.”

I turn around and really look at them, past what I think is going on.

Axel sits rigidly, his face set in a blank cold mask.

One all too familiar to me these days, but he would definitely not be looking at her that way if he was interested.

Her hand snakes out to grab his thigh, but he grips it and lifts it off, shoving his chair backward.

Jesus, if this were the other way around, the guy would be accused of sexually harassing the girl.

Why isn’t he telling her to fuck off, though? What can I even do about it? It’s not like I can go over there and stake my claim. He isn’t mine. I can’t go stick a little flag on him and tell Handsy Elsa to keep her hands to herself before I cut them off.

Right ?

She’s leaning toward him again, her hands now resting on his knees.

Jesus, she has more rebound than a boomerang . He needs to just get the hell up and walk away. Stop being Mr. Nice guy for once. Fucker has no issue being a total dick to me.

Although he literally just did something really thoughtful for you.

Urghhhhh…indecision flip-flops inside me.

When she brushes the white lock of hair off his forehead, my white lock, rage floods my veins, and before I have time to think of a better plan, I spin on my heel and stalk in their direction.

Axel sees me before she does, his eyes widening as I approach. Before he can say anything, I straddle his lap, my back to her, and slam my lips against his.

Electricity surges through my veins, every nerve ending throwing a party at once when his soft lips touch mine.

Without breaking the kiss, he pulls me closer, one hand gripping the bare skin of my thigh under my dress while the other snakes up to curl around the back of my neck, angling my face and taking control.

My mind goes blank as my senses overload. His lips on mine, his callused warm hands gripping me tight, and his familiar smell enveloping me. The need to get closer to him is overwhelming. I want to feel his fingers glide further up my thigh before plunging deep inside me.

His tongue delves into my mouth, deepening the kiss, dancing with mine as I run my hands through his hair, gripping the long strands like I’ve wanted to do since I first saw him again.

I grind slowly on his lap, the friction of his jeans rubbing on my clit sending shockwaves through me.

He lets out a quiet groan as he breaks our kiss and angles my head to suck and lightly bite my neck, pulling me closer, his cock stirring against my panties.

Wait.

Fuck .

We’re in the middle of the bar, and I’m about ready to ride him like I’m in a rodeo.

I push on his hard chest, and he immediately sits back, our breathing ragged. His eyes search mine, so dark you can barely make out the ring of blue.

Eying him warily, I see the exact moment reality creeps back in and he remembers where we are, a simmering inferno still burning in his eyes.

I walked over here and mauled him for an actual reason, not just because I can.

I ignore a flash of disappointment I’ve got no business feeling and turn on his lap, making sure I still keep my body pressed up against his chest, to address the blonde sitting there with a scowl on her face.

“Oh, you’re still here? Thanks for keeping Axel company while I was catching up with a friend, but next time I see you lay a hand on my man, I’ll be sure you break more than a nail.”

Her scowl deepens, an angry red flush spreading across her features as she looks past me to Axel, whose hands are gripping my thighs so tight, there’s no way I won’t have his marks there tomorrow.

I’m not mad at it.

“Axel, who the fuck is she? You said you didn’t date. Why is she calling you her man ?” Her high-pitched shriek draws the eyes of the surrounding tables now.

Shit. I thought she’d bugger off and leave him alone. I wasn’t expecting drama.

I shift on Axel's lap to turn more fully in her direction when his hands tighten their hold on me to stop me from moving, a low growl rumbling from him.

His now full erection prods at my thin panties.

Balls…this was not the day to wear a tiny dress.

Not when I just passed go and flew right through the friendzone. What was I thinking with this stunt?

“ Axel! ” she practically screams, the bar falling silent in surprise. She’s standing now, and literally stomping her heeled foot like a child having a tantrum, clearly not getting the hint.

She’s making the biggest bloody scene, and every eye in the place zeroes in on me draped over Axel’s lap like a horny cat. Not totally wrong, to be fair, because I’m pretty sure I’m close to leaving a mark on his freakin’ boner if this lady doesn’t get the hint soon.

Please, God, Buddha, anyone up there who’s listening, please, please, please don’t make me leave a wet patch on his jeans. I will die of mortification. There’s no coming back from that.

This is entirely my fault for not charging my trusty vibrator. I found that out the hard way last night. But in my defense, I wasn’t expecting to be grinding on the fireman’s pole less than twenty-four hours later.

I keep everything crossed that this isn’t going to end up another spectacular addition to my collection of mortified Haven in Sweet Haven moments.

Axel's deep voice breaks the silence that’s fallen across the bar.

“Keely, I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Haven.” Shock rips through me at his words. They sound so real.

“Hell yeah!” Lucas and Kim shout out in unison, the rest of our friends hooting and hollering as Keely stares from me to him and back again.

“Your girlfriend?” she sputters out. “Her? You chose her? You could have had me, but you chose someone who never grew out of her pink phase?” That’s original. I barely resist the urge to roll my eyes as Axel tenses, his arms banding around me like iron now.

“It’s always been her, Keely. Now, if you don’t mind, can you please stop making a scene and get the fuck out of my face so I can get back to spending time with my girl?”

Her face contorts in disgust as she turns on her heel and storms out of the bar. Axel's arms loosen around me as he starts to laugh, his chest shaking against my back.

Trying to resist rubbing myself over his still hard cock, I turn back to face him taking in his relaxed features and wide grin, I can’t help but smile back.

We stare at each other for what feels like hours but in reality, was probably only minutes before his gaze dims. His eyes search mine. I can almost hear the questions running through his head.

I don’t want to talk about this now. I’m not even sure I can give him the answers he’s looking for. How can I when I don’t even know what the hell just happened. It’s going to be awkward enough having to explain what I just did to our friends, not to mention working with him every day.

Mayday, mayday, get the fuck out of this Haven. Now.

“Shit, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I just reacted when I saw how uncomfortable you were. It doesn’t mean anything, OK? So don’t worry. I should really get going.”

His hands grip my thighs, flexing to keep me there. I push against him before he slowly lets me go. Instantly, my body cools with the loss of his body heat, like it…misses him?

I’ve got no time to examine that shit. I jump up and turn, practically running as fast as my chunky boots allow me to get out of the bar, not even stopping to say bye to our friends.

Now I know how Cinderella felt as the clock approached midnight.